Game of Thrones Recap by AsimovLives Season 6 â€“ Episode 5 “The Door” Hello. AsimovLivesÂ here Iâ€™m a regular contributor to The Supernaughts. This is...

Game of Thrones Recap by AsimovLives

Season 6 â€“ Episode 5

“The Door”

Hello. AsimovLivesÂ here

Iâ€™m a regular contributor to The Supernaughts. This is my series of recap articles about the episodes of the season 6 of HBOâ€™s television series Game of Thrones, a show i dearly love, for your pleasure.

Game of Info:

Series: Game of Thrones

Created by David Benioff & D. B. Weiss

Based on the fantasy novel series A Song Of Fire And Ice by author George R.R. Martin

Network: HBO

Season: 6

Episode: 5

Episode title: The Door

Written byÂ David Benioff & D. B. Weiss

Directed by Jack Bender

Original Air Date: May 22 2016

Game of Synopsis:

Beware, spoilers ahead

The episode opens with the Dyson sphere globe of the world of Westeros showing the locations of King’s Landing, Winterfell, The Wall, Vaes Dokhrar and Meereen, where the action takes place.

Sansa receives a letter from Littlefinger. She meets in private outside the Black Castle, accompanied by Brienne. Sansa is angry at him for giving her away to Ramsey. She thinks him an idiot if he didn’t knew what kind of man Ramsey was, or a monster for knowing. Anyway, she is her enemy now. He tries to win back her good graces by announcing he has the army of the Vale under his command at Motley Castle ready to join her, but she dismisses his help as she has own own army. Littlefinger points out that it’s not hers but her half-brother army. Before he leaves, he giver her news that her great-uncle the Blackfish as retaken the Tully’s capital and has an army of his own she could call upon for help.

Back at the Black Castle, Davos points out their strategic situation. There’s some major north houses that have not accepted the Bolton’s rule and they could be persuaded to join them. There is still the fact that Jon is a bastard and not a Stark, but Sansa points out she is a Stark, has the right name to rally the houses. Davos is worried the north might not have the honor they preach to have because even the houses that have not join the Boltons have not rebelled against them either. Sansa brings up that they can get help from the Tully forces. Asked how she knows this, she lies and tells she overheard a report for Ramsey. Later, when asked by Brienne why she lied, Sansa has no reply.

When they leave Castle Black, Sansa gives Jon a wolf pelt cloak she sewed herself, with the embroidery of a Direwolf, the banner image of the House of Stark. Tormund keeps making eyes to Brienne, much to her discomfort. When they leave, it finally dawns on Edd that he is now the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch. His first command is to “close the bloody gates”.

Tyrion, Melissandei, Grey Worm and Varys discuss the apparent results of Tyrion’s policy with the Slave Masters. But Tyrion points out that for the sake of political unity and Daenarys legitimacy as a queen, it all needs to look like she did all those things. More, she needs to gain the people’s undivided support. And to achieve that, he calls to Meere the person that could just do that: Kinvara, the high priestess of the church of R’hllor, the Lord of the Light. Like Melisandre, she is a spooky serene figure. she doesn’t need to be convinced to hype Daenarys to the population, as she already believes that she is The One That Was Promised by the dogma of her faith. Varys is unusually antagonistic, not concealingÂ his disdain for fanatics like the followers of the Lord of Light, and making a point in detailing the failures of MelisandreÂ in regard to Stannis. Kinvara dodges the accusations by claiming it’s opeople who make mistakes, not her God. She shuts up Varys with her knowledge of the circunstances of Varys’ castration, namyl, the voice he heard coming from the fire that consumed his manhood. Varys is disturbed and left speechless, while Kinvara leaves triumphantly.

Arya know as No One continues her training at the House of Black and White, which consists on sistematicÂ beatings from The Waif. A Man warns No One she got a second chance but will not get a third. She needs to be tested so she gets a new assignment. A trope of actors reenacts the events of season 1 in a populist brawdyÂ version of the events, where Joffrey and Cercei are portaited as good people, Ned Stark as a dimwitted and ambitious and Tyrion as a schemer behind the death of Ned and getting Sansa as his wife. No One is not amused. Backstage she spies on her net target, the lead actress that played Cercei.

Back at the House, A Man tells No One about the past of their order and how they were one of the founders of the city of Braavos and the origins of the many faces on display in the Hall of the Faces. She questions the reasons for her assigment, as the target seems to be a good person, but A Man shuts her inquiry and reminds her their lot is absolute and unquestioning obedience.

Daenerys recognizes Jorah’s true devotion to her and yet hesitates to make a definitive decision about him. Jorah shows her his infection of greyscale and proclaim his love for her and agrees with Tyrion in that in his condition he shouldn’t be in her presence anymore and prepares to leave. Jorah’s words and action finally warms Danys again to Jorah. SheÂ will not have him turn away from herÂ and commands him to find a cure and once cured to return to her, for she will not be able to rule Westeros without him by her side. Jorah obeys her command and leaves. Afar, he sees Dany march with her new Dokhraki army and rides on to his quest.

Yara makes her biding to the Salt Throne making appeals to the pride of the Iron Born as raiders. Theon throws his support to her and points out her known qualities as leader. Yara’s bid is interrupted by the arrival of her uncle Euron. His claim is he’s an even more accomplished raider, having put his mark and being known in the whole world, from the Iron Islands to Qarth and beyond. But his winning card is his plan to join the Iron Fleet to the forces of Daenarys Stormborn (who we know lost her entire fleet) and his plans to marry her and thus to bring the Iron Born again the their former glory as co-conquerers of Westeros. This brings Euron near universal acclaim. While he’s being invested as the new King in a baptism cerimony in honor of the Drowned God, theon, Yara and a group loyal to their cause sneak offÂ the Iron Islands and take them them the entire Iron Fleet. Euron, who wanted to kill them both, gives his first royal command: to build a new fleet of one thousand ships, with it he promises they will conquer the world.

Bran and the Three-Eyed Raven are greenseeing to many, many thousands years in the past: they witness the event when the Children of the Forest sacrificed one of the First Men on a Weirdwood Tree, turning himÂ into the first White Walker, the Night’s King himself. Bran awakes and realizes it was Leaf herself who by her hand created the Night’s King. She justifies the deed as they were at war with Men and created a desperate measure against the constant massacres the invading Men were perpetuating on the Children.

Later at night when everybody is sleeping, a restless Bran decides to go greenseeing without the Raven’s supervision. She goes to the same place of the sacrifice, but now instead of a green scenery it’s a polar desolation, hinting that once even the North of the Wall was a warmer and greener place. He sees theÂ Night Army and the White Walkers who lead them. He suddenly notices that all the wrights and White Walkers can see him. The Night’s King sneaks on him and grabs his arm. Bran wakes up in terror, waking everybody. The Raven says the Night’s King touched him, which is proved by ice burns on Bran’s arm. Now their adversary knows where he is and even the magic that protects the Raven’s cave will not stop him.

The urgency of the situation makes the Raven take the decision to have Bran become him, even if the latter is not yet ready. While the Raven and Bran greenseeing into a moment on Ned’s past, the Night’s Army arrives at the cave.

The Children firebomb the advancing enemies, but it only affects the wrights. The White Walkers pass over the fire gauntlet and enter the cave. The wrights climb over the hill and from above dig into the cave. The cave is invaded by the hundreds and the Children and Meera is soon overcome by the sheer numbers of their adversaries. All the children die trying to stop the invaders, including Leaf- Meera manages to kill a White Walker with an dragonslass tip spear but it’s a little inconsequential Pyrrhic triumph compared the their losses. The direwolfÂ Summer jumps on the wrights but they cut him to pieces. Meera calls to Hodor and Bran to run away. While greeseeing, Bran notices there’s trouble in the waken world.

The Night’s King reaches to where the Raven is seated and lifts his spear. Bran seesÂ the Raven dissipates as a cloud. He turns to young Hodor as Wilys and wargs him. Hodor in the waken world rises up from his childish panic and carries the sleeping Bran. At the end of the cave there’s a door where Meera and Hodor carring Bran taking them outside. Meera tells Hodor to hold the door. As Meera steps into the night carrying Bran to safety, Hodor remains behind holding the door to the wrights behind. they break through the door and catch Hodor and slash him to death. Bran sees young Wilys colapse and she shouts Meera’s words to hold the door. As he repeats the words, they become jumbled together and eventually the words “hold the door” becomes “hodor”. Bran looks on in horror as by his actions the child one known as Wilys becomes Hodor.

Game of Opinion:

This is aÂ most emotional wrenching and sad episodes of the series, to rival the Red Wedding, with even that episode having moreÂ moments of levity that this. It’s amazing how many well liked characters died in this, notably the direwolf Summer and Hodor. The later’s death in particular is having the fandom in mourning. Understandably so. Hodor was one of the few genuine nice characters in the show where the majority are either ambiguous or villains. He gained memetic dimentions thanks to his popularity and now he’s gone.

I’d also like to point out that the death of the Children of the Forest and Leaf in particular is also very tragic as well. This is an ancient race from times immemorial, the first inhabitants of Westeros, victims of despair when they first faced the First Men in war and eventually created the seeds of their own destruction, a slow moving tragedy spanning millenia which ended with a fell swoop in a nighttime. I was hoping that we would get to see more of Leaf, that she would go with Bran on his adventures when he eventually had learned all he had to with the Three-Eyed Raven. Her powers and knowledge would had been a great asset to Team Bran. Alas, it was not to be.

One of the few ray of light of hope is yet quite bittersweet: Dany in all words has forgiven and accepted Jorah back but can’t have him back because of his disease. Her commend to have Jorah on a quest to find a cure is a grain of hope. We know that greyscale is curable, thanks to what we saw of Sheereen, Stannis’ daughter. Thought that might have been a rare or unique occasion. I think, i fear, and i have come to terms with it, this might just be the last time we see Jorah alive. His quest will be left to the imagination. Or probably he will just quietly kill himself once out of sight of Dany. I wish that he would indeed find his cure and return to Dany, but this is Game of Thrones after all.

The other ray of light is Sansa’s story. It’s great to see realized what i wished had happened in season 5, which is Sansa finally taking hold of her destiny, no longer a mere pawn in other schemes but becoming a player. Many have asked why didn’t she answered to Brinne why did she lied to Jon and the rest of her council. The way i see it, the answer is that Brienne’s sense of honor wouldn’t understand or accept the answer, which is, Sansa is playing realpolitik. Even though she has rejected Littlefinger’s help, she listened to his proposal and made use of something even a person she sees now as a enemy to be of practical value to her. She is being very practical. She truly has learned her lessons with Littlefinger. And this aspect of Sansa is in fact a continuation of who she was before when she was in King’s Landing. Back then she used to make herself look like a silly innocent stupid girl so to not be taken as a threat. Also, for a moment during the Blackwater battle, she managed to show some queenly attributes when she manage to spirit the other women when panic raised, in contrast to Cercei who tuned her back to everybody and fell into suicidal despair. Her character arc might have been one of the most slow burn of the series, but nonetheless it has reached a point that’s close to it’s logical conclusion: Sansa as a leader and a player in the game of thrones. About time too!

This episode also has given some answers to mysteries of the past events. It was revealed the origins of the White Walkers, and also of the reason why Hodor was who he was. Also, this revelations has and will cause more questions. I think this show is doing this very well. It’s not as easy to do this that successful, as attested to past shows who trued and failed *coughLostcough*. It’s episodes like this that truly proves this is a superior television series and superior fiction. I mean, this series already has proved that multiple times before, but if any doubts creep in (not for me), this puts them all down. This is just great, pure and simple.

I think this is one of the greatest episodes not just of this season, but of the whole series.

Game of Predictions:

I still think that despite Danys’ command, this is the last time we will see Jorah alive in the show. Or at least as himself. When Danys and her army sails toward Westeros, when they pass by Old Valyria, we will a stone man and he will have the familiar resemblance of Jorah.

Or if he does get cured or treated for his greyscale, maybe his quest will take him back to Qarth, or even further east to Asshai, the land where the Red Priests came from. Or maybe even Yi Ti, the saga’s counterpart of China. He is Jorah the explorer!

We will not learn yet of what happened in the Tower of Joy this season. Bran’s warging and greenseeing will take him elsewhere on more pressing matters related to the White Walkers menace.

In Memoriam;

The Three Eyed Raven, a While Walker, a hundred Wights, Summer, all known Children of the Forest, Leaf and Wilys/Hodor.

Quote of the episode:

Sansa: “Did you know about Ramsey? If you didn’t know you’re an idiot, if you did know you’re my enemy. Would you like to hear about ourÂ wedding night? He would never hurt my face. He needed my face, the face of Ned Stark’s daughter. But the rest of me… he did what he liked with the rest of me, as long i could give him an heir. What do you think he did? What did you think he did to me?””

Brienne: “Lady Sansa asked you a question!”

Littlefinger: “He beat you.”

Sansa: “Yes, he enjoyed that. What else you think he did? What else?”

Littlefinger: “Did he got you?”

Sansa: “Maybe you didn’t know about Ramsey all along.”

Littlefinger: “I didn’t, no.”

Sansa: “I thought you knew everybody’s secrets.”

Littlefinger: “I made a mistake, an horrible mistake, I underestimated a stranger.”

Sansa: “The other things he did ladies are not supposed to talk about those things but I imagine brothels keeps talking about all the time. I can still feel it. I don’t mean in my tender heart it still pains me so, but i still feel what he did in my body just standing here right now.”

Littelfinger: “I’m so sorry!”

Sansa: “You told me you could protect me. I don’t believe you anymore. I don’t need you anymore. You can’t protect me. You couldn’t even protect yourself if I told Brienne to cut you down. Why shouldn’t I? You freed me from the monsters who killed my family, and you gave me to other monsters who murdered my family. Go back to Motley Caithlin, my brother and I will take back the North on our own, I don’t want to see you again.”

Game of Final Thoughts:

This a great, great episode. Fantastic. And very emotionally draining. Questions were raised, questions were answered, and so many dear characters died, all in a single very intense episode. I’m starting to believe this might be the best season of GOT yet. A bold statement? Perhaps. But quite justified, if you ask me.

As always, thank you for reading. This is AsimovLives signing off. Have a better one.

AsimovLives

Hailing from the atlantic lusitanian shores, AsimovLives is a native of Portugal (it's in Europe). An enthusiastic fan of Science Fiction and Cinema, together with varied interests in Science, Astronomy, History, Arts, Gastronomy, Wines & Spirits and all things Beauty. Unshakable convictions of humanism, secularism and rationalist kind. Tireless supporter of intelligent and honest-hearted entertainment. Staunch enemy of superstition and all dumbed down shallow hack made cynical cash-grabbing cinema and tirelessly calling out on their supporters, no half-measures. Passion is the game.

CoolHandJuke

I judge episodes based on how much door holding is involved…

I_am_better

This one f*cking destroyed me. I had a feeling that Wylis had seen something pretty horrible but i wouldn’t have guessed it was his own death

Stalk?

I call bullshit on Sansa letting Petyr live after all the shit he has done…!
Brienne was ready to turn him into corned beef but Sansa had a change at heart. Ugh!

I_am_better

That’s at least how I saw it: Bran acted as a kind of a conduit and The past-Wylis linked with Future-Hodor; and saw and possibly even felt his death.

I_am_better

Still not sure if that last little strategy-tip was a genuine one or just another one of his manipulations

I_am_better

Because if it WAS just a Littlefinger ploy to get Brienne to ride to Riverrun alone, does that actually mean the showrunners are going to pull off LSH.

I_am_better

(I shortened that last bit, in case some are not spoiled by one of the big WTF moments from the books they haven’t yet used)

franks_television

He might have. He probably didn’t realize what it was at the time, though.

That was how it read to me as well. Part of Wylis got stuck in the future because Bran was with both Wylis and Hodor when he warged Hodor. You’re just going about your day and suddenly having a nightmare of your death while wide awake. And what made it worse/better/ was it seemed to me he wasn’t warged at the end and went down a hero and not just a sacrifice.

Beautiful stuff.

Frimmel

He’s still more or less in charge of The Vale. Just not practical to cut him down. “We make peace with our enemies.”

Frimmel

It was both. Strategy and manipulation may coincide. Littlefinger needs the North and he’s playing a long game.

I_am_better

Yeah, that’s what made it so bittersweet was that he really was a true goddamn hero to go north and protect Bran while full well knowing he would die in the process.

I_am_better

I expect her to become cruel when she sees Ramsay the next time

I_am_better

Another thing that struck me… Was this actually the fist time we’ve seen Varys become a little bit distressed? I think it was.

Not overly so. But we did saw him upset before, in a more subtle way, when the slave masters commented on his him being an eunuch. This is the second time that the show presents a strong reaction by him.
While Varys can take any comments and mockery for his castration in Westeros and by westerosi in stride, the same comments made by powerful people from Essos does seem to create in him a powerful emotional response.

I think that Yara and Theon are taking the Iron Fleet to Sansa to ally with her forces, not Daenerys. That’s the war they know exists and it’s right there, not some distant adventure with, from their perspective, a fantasy like impossible events with a magical queen and dragons.

Frimmel

At the moment they are just running. They probably didn’t even pack. They likely don’t have much of a plan other than not getting murdered. My guess is they’ll go reaving down in The Reach (Tyrells) while the Tyrell army is up in King’s Landing. Maybe pay a call on Dorne.

Remember that Theon declared he would die for Sansa before he left for the Iron Islands. So i think his first thought would be to reunite with Sansa now that his own home is hostile territory, and convince his sister of the wisdom of this action.

Frimmel

Maybe, but it seems to me they’re backtracking on some on the book four stuff they’ve left out. I don’t think Theon will be convincing his sister of much of anything for some time yet. Anything not “Yes, Yara” isn’t likely to go over well in my view.

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